One Day Trip to Baratang Island: Witnessing Andaman’s Untouched Beauty (2024)

Nestled within the pristine archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Baratang Island beckons travellers with its unspoiled beauty and a day trip filled with natural wonders. Far away from bustling city life, this remote gem is a sanctuary of ecological diversity, where lush mangroves, limestone caves, and idyllic beaches await those seeking a quick escape into the heart of nature.

I visited Baratang Island with my mother during my first visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A local suggested the island, and I think a one-day trip from Port Blair was totally worth it. Baratang Island is a very interesting place where one can see a completely different aspect of the Andaman Islands.

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Short on time? Here are Andaman and Nicobar Islands Travel Resources
For the Best Hotel Deals in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, use Booking.com or Goibibo
For Hostels in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, use HostelWorld
Use Skyscanner or Trip.com to get affordable flight tickets to Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Viator and GetYourGuide are your best tour operators
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For comprehensive travel insurance, use SafetyWing or WorldNomads

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Plan Your Visit to Chidiya Tapu
One-Day Trip to Baratang Island
One-Day Trip to Ross Island from Port Blair
Never Forgotten Tales of Cellular Jail
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Reasons To Skip North Bay Island

Where is Baratang Island?

Located in the North and Middle Andaman districts, Baratang Island constitutes twelve villages with around 5000 inhabitants, mainly by the Jarawa tribes. The Jarawa people are the local indigenous people of the Andaman Islands.

Famous for its spectacular beaches and mangrove forests, Baratang is also known as Ranchiwalas Island. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the British sent the Ranchi refugees as labourers to Baratang to cultivate crops. The labourers settled on the island and made new lives for themselves.

Note: You cannot interact with the Jarawa people as it is not allowed by the government. When we were traveling by taxi to Baratang island, we saw one tribal person by the side of the highway. But unfortunately, no photographs or interaction was allowed.

How to Get to Baratang Island?

Baratang Island is accessible by boat from the Middle Strait jetty. The Middle Strait jetty is around 90 kilometres from Port Blair, and by road, the journey takes about 2 hours one way.

• There are bus services between the Jetty and Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair, and the journey takes around 2 hours 30 minutes. The fare (which is minimal) needs to be paid in cash, and you must ensure that you take the exact change.
• The easiest way is also to hire a taxi for the day, where the taxi driver stays with you for the entire day, and the return journey is covered, too. The cost of the one-day taxi is around INR 2000.

While you are in Port Blair, make sure to visit the Cellular Jail and hear the stories of our freedom fighters.

Things To Do at Baratang Island

Baratang Island is popular for its natural and unique things to see. But a few things to remember before visiting Baratang island are:

• The only way to Baratang Island is by boat. Speed and local boats are available. The speed boat costs around INR 750 per person.
• The prices may be outdated. Ensure to check with individual providers for up-to-date prices.
• Taxis can be hired from the hotel reception as they are usually trustworthy.
• The best time to visit Baratang Island is during the winter season (between October and February). I definitely would not suggest visiting during the summer season, as it is extremely hot.
• Be careful of crocodiles, especially in mangrove forests. Keep your hands safe inside the boat, and do not keep them near the water.
• There is no entrance fee to visit Baratang Island.
• Wear comfortable shoes, as there is a bit of walking around on the island.
• The Baratang island is closed on Mondays.
• Talk to the locals and get some insight.
• There are a few shops on the island where one can purchase lemon juices and some local fresh or packaged food products. Ensure to carry cash to purchase these food items and drinks.
• Take sufficient water.

Limestone cave

The Limestone cave at Baratang island is one of the largest and deepest caves humans have discovered. Formed by the compression of deposits over millions of years, the cave is made up of sedimentary rock called limestone, originally at the bottom of the ocean. Limestone deposits have different textures and are easily dissolved by rainwater.

If possible, hire a local guide to explain you the rock formations.

Mud volcano

One of the unique things you will see in Baratang Island is the mud volcano. Before I visited this island, I did not even know there was such a thing.

The mud volcano is created using natural gases emitted by decaying organic matter underground. As the gas pushes the mud upwards, it deposits and hardens the ground above. As the mud oozes and spills out, it grows in size and forms a miniature volcano, which is called the mud volcano.

Some of the things I learned about the mud volcano after my visit were:

• The difference between a regular and a mud volcano is that a regular volcano erupts molten rocks, chemicals and ash, whereas a mud volcano erupts gases and mud.
• The mud volcano is cold.
• The mud volcano has no medicinal benefits, and it destroys vegetation and anything in its zone.
• The outflow of the regular volcano is called lava where, whereas the outflow of a mud volcano is called mud flow.

Mangrove forests

Baratang Island is home to some amazing mangrove forests. The mangrove trees have small air roots called pneumatophores or aerial roots extending upwards from underground roots. During the low tides, these small air roots suck up air and transport it to the lower and living root tissues.

Did you know that the fruits of Mangrove forests are called Vivipores? Some are smooth, pointed, and long. They fall vertically and float in the water for a certain distance until they are held by mud, which leads to a new generation of mangrove trees. How fascinating is that!

Closing notes

A one-day trip to Baratang Island from Port Bair is a must. Visiting this side of the Andaman Islands is a completely different experience than just seeing the pretty and clear beaches of the islands. I highly recommend visiting Baratang Island.

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